mg.cityofcrime-第21部分

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　〃My　father　cannot　leave　here；　Mr。　Callister；〃　protested　the　girl。　〃He　has　to　speak　at　an　important　meeting　that　may　be　held　tomorrow　night。〃
　〃The　judge　told　me　that；〃　responded　The　Shadow；　in　Trig's　tone。　〃I　assured　him　that　he　will　be　back　for　the　meeting；　whenever　it　is　held。　It　is　only　a　few　hours　drive　here　from　Washington。〃
　〃But　if　he　leaves　with　you；　tonight　will…〃
　〃He　will　have　a　good　rest　at　a　Washington　hotel；　and　will　be　ready　to　meet　the　congressional　mittee　in　the　morning。〃
　While　Estelle　was　thinking　of　other　possible　objections；　Judge　Benbrook　arrived　from　the　second　floor。　He　had　packed　a　suitcase　in　rapid　time；　he　was　carrying　the　bag　with　him。　The　Shadow　took　the　suitcase；　bowed　to　Estelle；　and　conducted　the　judge　out　to　the　street。　Estelle　watched　the　two　enter　a　large　sedan　and　drive　away。
　
　
　LESS　than　a　half　hour　later；　the　same　sedan　reached　a　dirt　road　in　the　country。　After　a　few　hundred　yards；　it　turned　between　two　gates　and　stopped　in　front　of　an　old；　but　well…preserved；　mansion。　A　coupe　was　parked　beyond　the　house；　it　was　Lance　Gillick's　car。　The　Shadow　and　the　judge　alighted；　they　entered　the　house　and　went　up　to　the　second　floor。
　There；　a　clean…cut　young　man　met　them。　The　Shadow　introduced　him　as　Mr。
　Vincent；　added　that　the　man　was　his　private　secretary。　Vincent　ushered　them　into　a　fortable…looking　study；　where　a　portable　typewriter　stood　unlimbered　on　a　table。
　〃This　should　suit　you　admirably；　judge；〃　remarked　The　Shadow；　in　Trig's　tone。　〃Tomorrow；　you　can　dictate　full　statements　to　Vincent。　I　shall　call　Washington；　to　tell　them　that　you　will　meet　the　mittee　on　a　later　date。〃
　〃A　good　plan。　Mr。　Callister；〃　agreed　the　judge。　〃I　can　work　better　here　than　at　home。　I　shall　send　a　letter　to　my　daughter；　telling　her　not　to　be　concerned　about　my　absence。〃
　〃I　can　mail　it　for　you；　judge。　Don't　worry　about　the　Civic　Club。　We　are　close　enough　to　Westford　to　get　in　there　when　the　meeting　is　scheduled。〃
　〃We　must　remember　to　look　for　a　notice　in　tomorrow's　newspaper。〃
　〃I　shall　attend　to　that；　judge。〃
　Leaving　Benbrook　with　Vincent；　The　Shadow　went　from　the　study　and　closed　the　door　behind　him。　Immediately；　another　door　opened；　Lance　Gillick　appeared　and　joined　The　Shadow　with　a　grin。　The　two　went　downstairs。　At　the　door；　Lance　whispered。
　〃Vincent　stowed　me　in　the　next　room；〃　he　told　The　Shadow。　〃I　heard　you　hand　the　hokum　to　the　judge。　He　fell　for　it　just　the　way　we　wanted。　Say…this　fellow　Vincent　looks　great！　If　the　rest　of　your　crew　is　as　good　as　he　is；　you've　got　a　swell　set…up！〃
　〃They　all　know　their　business；〃　remarked　The　Shadow。　〃I've　used　them　on　plenty　of　smooth　jobs　before　this；　Lance。〃
　The　Shadow's　statement　was　correct；　though　not　in　the　sense　that　Lance　took　it。　The　men　whom　The　Shadow　had　brought　to　this　house　were　his　own　agents；　who　had　aided　him　often　in　his　battles　against　crime。　Beside　Vincent；　The　Shadow　had　brought　into　the　house　three　whom　Lance　had　not　seen：　Marsland；　Burke　and　Burbank。
　A　huge　African　servant　appeared　to　unlock　the　door　for　The　Shadow　and　Lance。　The　man's　size　brought　a　smile　of　approval　from　Lance；　he　would　have　liked　to　have　the　African　as　a　bouncer　in　one　of　his　tough　gambling　joints。　He　asked　about　the　man　when　they　stepped　outside。
　〃His　name　is　Jericho；〃　said　The　Shadow。　〃He　makes　a　good　servant；　and　he　es　in　handy　if　a　brawl　starts。〃
　Another　man　appeared　outside　the　house；　he　was　small；　stoop…shouldered　and　wizen…faced。　This　fellow　watched　The　Shadow　walk　along　with　Lance　to　the　coupe；　then　the　wizened…faced　man　sidled　to　the　front　door　and　knocked　for　Jericho　to　admit　him。　Both　he　and　Jericho　were　aids　of　The　Shadow　also。
　〃That　was　Hawkeye；〃　remarked　The　Shadow。　〃I　told　Vincent　to　keep　him　outside。　He　looks　too　much　like　a　torpedo。　He's　too　useful；　though；　to　do　without。〃
　〃What　a　set…up；〃　chuckled　Lance；　as　he　boarded　the　coupe。　〃This　outfit　of　yours　would　be　a　good　one　to　have　waiting　for　The　Shadow。〃
　〃If　he　es　here；〃　replied　The　Shadow；　in　Trig's　harsh　fashion；　〃my　crew　will　know　it　soon　enough。〃
　Lance　drove　away。　The　Shadow　returned　to　his　sedan　and　followed　into　Westford。　The　outside　cordon　was　set；　The　Shadow　saw　signs　of　lurking　men　along　the　dirt　road。　They　let　both　cars　go　through；　for　Lance　had　told　them　that　Trig　Callister　was　not　to　be　stopped。　He　had　given　them　the　license　number　of　the　sedan　that　The　Shadow　was　using。
　
　
　LATER　that　same　evening；　Estelle　Benbrook　again　knocked　at　the　door　on　the　second　floor。　She　had　not　heard　The　Shadow　e　into　the　house；　but　she　felt　sure　that　he　must　have　returned。
　The　door　opened；　The　Shadow　stepped　out　into　the　hall。　He　was　wearing　his　black　cloak　and　slouch　hat。　Estelle　could　not　distinguish　his　face；　except　for　the　burning　glow　of　his　eyes。
　In　troubled　tone；　Estelle　reported　the　details　of　her　father's　departure。
　She　described　Trig　Callister　as　a　man　whose　sincerity　she　doubted。　The　Shadow　reassured　the　girl　with　quiet；　low…toned　speech。　He　told　her　not　to　worry　until　the　next　day。　He　added　that　he　would　see　to　it　that　no　harm　came　to　her　father。
　Remembering　The　Shadow's　prowess；　Estelle　was　satisfied。
　Back　in　his　room；　The　Shadow　indulged　in　a　whispered　laugh　that　was　scarcely　audible。　He　had　not　told　Estelle　the　facts　concerning　her　father；　because；　although　he　knew　the　judge　was　safe；　The　Shadow　did　not　believe　that　Estelle　would　think　so。　It　was　better　that　she　should　learn　the　details　after　The　Shadow's　present　plan　had　progressed　further。
　The　Shadow　was　correct　in　that　opinion。　He　had　chosen　the　course　that　offered　the　least　difficulty；　so　far　as　Estelle　was　concerned。　Nevertheless；　there　was　a　chance　that　the　girl's　ignorance　of　the　situation　might　prove　a　stumbling　block。
　The　Shadow　was　to　encounter　real　evidence　of　that　fact；　before　this　episode　was　ended。
　
　
　CHAPTER　XX　
　THE　LAW'S　TURN　
　AT　dusk；　the　next　day；　Lance　Gillick　was　seated　at　his　desk；　drumming　nervously。　In　front　of　him　was　a　copy　of　the　Daily　Banner；　effectively　faked　with　a　false　paragraph　that　announced　postponement　of　the　Civic　Club　meeting。
　Actually；　the　meeting　had　been　called　for　this　very　night；　by　Stephen　Ruthley。
　What　troubled　Lance　was　the　fact　that　Trig　Callister　had　not　yet　arrived。
　To　Lance；　that　meant　that　something　might　be　wrong　at　the　country　mansion。
　Lance　stopped　his　drumming；　to　pick　up　the　telephone。　He　intended　to　chance　a　call　to　Stephen　Ruthley；　though　as　a　rule　the　boss　objected　to　such　mode　of　contact。
　Before　Lance　could　dial　the　number；　the　door　of　the　office　opened。　Lance　grinned　as　he　saw　Trig　Callister。
　〃Wondered　where　you　were；　Trig；〃　voiced　the　gambler。　He　picked　up　the　faked　newspaper。　〃Here's　the　news　sheet；　ready　for　you　to　take　out　to　the　judge。　Is　everything　all　jake？〃
　〃Just　the　way　we　want　it；〃　replied　The　Shadow。　〃The　judge　is　getting　jittery；　though。　I'll　have　to　hurry　the　newspaper　out　to　him。〃
　〃Slide　along　then；　Trig。〃
　The　Shadow　paused；　as　he　folded　the　newspaper　and　pocketed　it。　Lance　noticed　that　Trig　had　his　hand　bag　with　him。　He　supposed　that　Trig　had　forgotten　to　take　it　to　the　country；　the　night　before。
　〃There　were　some　cops　out　front　when　I　came　in；〃　stated　The　Shadow。　〃They　looked　me　over　pretty　closely；　Lance。〃
　〃Some　of　Maclare's　bunch；〃　snorted　Lance。　〃He　always　keeps　a　flatfoot　near　here。　Sometimes　two　or　three。　He's　still　sore　because　he　never　pinned　anything　on　me。　He　had　to　give　me　an　alibi　once；　I　guess　he's　never　gotten　over　the　shock。〃
　〃Maybe　you'd　better　steer　me　out　by　the　back　way；〃　suggested　The　Shadow。
　〃The　cops　may　be　suspicious　at　seeing　me　e　out　so　soon。　I　don't　want　to　be　slowed　up　by　an　argument　with　a　couple　of　dumb　harness　bulls。〃
　Lance　nodded　agreement。　He　opened　the　panel　in　the　wall；　urged　The　Shadow　into　the　passage　beyond　it。　They　followed　along　the　passage　to　its　end。　At　the　left　was　a　large　door　that　served　as　the　only　entrance　to　Lance's　secret　apartment；　in　an　adjoining　building。　At　the　right　was　a　stairway。　Lance　led　The　Shadow　downward。
　There　they　found　a　small　entry；　with　a　steel　door　beyond　it。　The　entry　was　dim；　it　was　guarded　by　a　huge　bruiser　who　was　almost　the　size　of　Jericho。　In　fact；　Lance　had　pared　the　huge　African　with　this　particular　husky　when　he　had　viewed　Jericho　and　admired　the　latter's　bulk。
　〃Open　the　gate；　Boscul；〃　ordered　Lance。　〃Lock　it　up　as　soon　as　Trig　goes　out。〃
　〃So　long；　Lance；〃　remarked　The　Shadow。　〃Don't　bother　to　wait。　I'd　better　e　in　this　way；　though；　when　I　e　back。〃
　〃Give　three　quick　raps。　Then　two　slow　ones。　That's　the　signal；　Trig。〃
　With　this　information　The　Shadow　was　quite　willing　that　Lance　should　wait　around。　The　gambler；　however；　followed　The　Shadow's　suggestion　and　went　upstairs。　That　made　it　even　better。　While　Boscul　was　still　drawing　back　a　series　of　big　bolts；　The　Shadow　laid　his　hand　bag　on　the　floor。　Tightening　in　a　crouch；　he　prepared　to　spring。
　
　
　THE　lookout　must　have　caught　some　sign　of　the　attack　that　was　to　e。　He　spun　suddenly　from　the　door；　his　dull　face　lighted　in　a　glare。　Boscul　gave　a　snarl　just　as　The　Shadow　sprang　forward。　With　hamlike　hands；　the　big　husky　met　The　Shadow's　onrush。
　Boscul　thought　that　he　was　dealing　with　Trig　Callister。　That；　perhaps；　gave　him　more　courage　than　he　would　have　shown　against　a　cloaked　attacker。
　Boscul　beat　back　The　Shadow's　thrust　before　long　fingers　could　gain　the　clutch　they　wanted。　With　a　fierce　cry；　he　hurled　the　limber　attacker　across　the　entry。
　Fortunately；　Lance　Gillick　was　too　far　away　to　hear　that　shout。　The　Shadow　had　enough　to　do；　handling　Boscul。　He　managed　to　ward　off　a　punch　that　the　big　lookout　swung　in　his　direction。　He　followed　with　a　quick　jab　that　bobbed　Boscul's　head　backward；　even　though　it　failed　to　stagger　the　huge　fighter。
　The　two　locked。　Boscul's　arms　tightened　like　the　grip　of　a　python。　He　hoisted　The　Shadow　from　the　floor；　intent　upon　crushing　the　supposed　Trig　Callister　into　submission。　Swinging　one　wrist　free；　The　Shadow　squeezed　choking　fingers　about　Boscul's　throat。　The　fellow　gurgled；　relaxed　his　fierce　grip。
　From　then　on；　it　was　The　Shadow's　fight。　Gaining　a　footing；　he　beat　off　Boscul's　clutch；　drove　the　lookout　across　the　floor　with　a　series　of　slashing　blows。　Again；　th